IN OUR TOWNS

EAST GRANBY - The Democratic Town Committee elected a new town chairman in March. Local businessman and former Vice Chairman Mike Malloy was elected to succeed longtime Chairman Jeff Clark, who declined another term. Others elected to posts at the meeting include Ryan Mckeen, John Welsh, and Raymonde Daigle as vice chairmen, Alison Mckeen as treasurer and former chairman Tom Howard as secretary. Anyone interested in more information or in getting involved locally can call Malloy at 860-651-1895 or visit www.eastgranbydems.com.

Absentee Ballots Available

AVON - Absentee ballots are available for the May 14 referendum. They can be obtained by visiting the town clerk's office at 60 W. Main St. or by calling 860-409-4310.

Woman Misses Prison Date

A Wethersfield woman who failed to report to prison to begin her jail term for falsifying federal tax returns must spend an extra year behind bars, acting U.S. Attorney Nora R. Dannehy said Wednesday.

Snezana Berbic, 39, who was allowed to remain free on a $500,000 non-surety bond after being sentenced on Sept. 6 to 12 months and one day in prison, was supposed to report to the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury on Nov. 1.

She didn't.

U.S. Marshals arrested Berbic on Nov. 16, and on Wednesday she was sentenced to an additional year in prison.

On April 12, 2007, Berbic pleaded guilty to making a false statement on a federal individual income tax return, and assisting others in preparing 335 false tax returns between 2002 and 2005 , which officials said resulted in underpayment or improper refunds totaling $711,570.

Search and seizure warrants executed at 5 Clay St. and the Aponce Grocery at 453 Washington St. yielded 53 grams of marijuana, 77 bags of heroin, 44 grams of pure heroin, $2,500 cash and a half-dozen firearms, including three 12-gauge shotguns and a .38-caliber revolver, police said.

Modesto Almodovar, 56, and Carmen Davila, 53, were arrested on various narcotics charges, police said. Davila, who police say was arrested while packaging raw heroin for resale, was held, with bail set at $500,000. Bail for Almodovar, who was arrested at his grocery, was set at $750,000.

The arrests were the result of a two-month investigation, police said.

Man's Body Found In River

MIDDLETOWN - Police pulled a dead man out of the Connecticut River Wednesday.

The police department dive team recovered the body from a section of the river near Middletown Power, an electricity generating plant on River Road, at about 10:40 a.m., police said. The body was taken to the chief state's medical examiner's office for investigation.

Police would not release the name of the man pending notification of his next of kin.

A power plant employee called police to report the sighting of a body.

Pair Arrested In Shoplifting

NEWINGTON - A New Britain man and woman were arrested at Wal-Mart on the Berlin Turnpike last week after trying to leave the store without paying for $271 worth of merchandise, police said Wednesday.

Edward Rubinowicz and Tammy Clark, both 42, were charged with impairing the morals of a child, a felony, because Clark's 8-year-old son was with them during the incident on April 8. The two allegedly tried to exit the store with Boston Red Sox shorts and other adult and children's clothing, police said.

Rubinowicz and Clark, who share an address of 408 Park St., also face charges of fifth-degree larceny and conspiracy in connection with the shoplifting, Lt. William Darby said. Wal-Mart security personnel stopped Rubinowicz and Clark in the vestibule of the store after seeing them push a shopping cart past the registers without paying, Darby said.

As they were being interviewed in the store's security office, a Wal-Mart staffer allegedly saw Rubinowicz trying to hide a container of oxycodone tablets before police arrived, Darby said. As a result, Rubinowicz also was charged with possession of narcotics and possession of a controlled substance.

Clark and Rubinowicz each posted bail and are expected to appear in Superior Court in New Britain on April 22.

Two Men Injured In Fight

HARTFORD - One man was stabbed in the torso during a fight Tuesday night at a Broad Street bar, and another man was cut trying to break it up, police said.

The 21-year-old stabbing victim was in stable condition at Hartford Hospital, police said Wednesday. The other victim, a 33-year-old man, was treated for a cut to his upper lip, police said.

The fight involved the 21-year-old and another person at the Sports Center Bar, police said. Police did not have a description of the other person.

Officers went to the bar around 11 p.m. after someone reported a large fight. The victims had left for the hospital by the time police arrived.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Town To Hold 'Green Summit'

SIMSBURY - The town is holding a "green summit" April 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the chapel at Ethel Walker School on Bushy Hill Road.

The public is invited to attend the summit and review the town's current environmentally friendly practices and explore other opportunities for Simsbury to become more eco-friendly. For more information, call the first selectman's office at 860-658-3230.

Treatment Plant Open House

SIMSBURY - The Simsbury Water Pollution Control Facility is inviting the public to an open house May 10 from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

The facility recently completed a $26 million renovation. Tours of the facility and a fact sheet explaining the details of the water pollution control process, its importance to the town and the environment will be provided. The facility processes wastewater from Simsbury, Granby and parts of Avon.

The state Department of Environmental Protection required the renovation to reduce the amount of nitrogen being discharged into the Farmington River.

A Cappella Group Performs

NEW HARTFORD - A cappella group CDN (Completely Different Note) will perform at the Bakerville Methodist Church on Route 202 at 3 p.m. April 20.

The all-male group will sing a mix of current and traditional songs, including cartoon themes. Formed at the University of Connecticut, the group includes New Hartford native Patrick Reardon.

Tickets are $10 and can be obtained at the Bakerville Public Library or at the door. Children under 12 will be admitted free. Proceeds will benefit the library.

Pool Memberships Available

FARMINGTON - Membership applications for Sycamore Hills Pool in Avon are available at the offices of Farmington Recreation, 7 Westwoods Drive.

Membership for 50 households and 10 individuals will be available for Farmington residents. The fee is $150 per household and $75 per individual.

Membership applications must be returned by mail only to the Avon Recreation and Park Department, 60 West Main St., Avon, CT 06001, between April 21 and May 9. Memberships will be processed on a lottery basis by the Avon Park Department, on May 12 at 3:30 p.m. For more information, call 860-675-2540.

Senior Center Programs

FARMINGTON - The Farmington Senior Center offers a variety of exercise and computer programs for residents 50 and older. For more information, call 860-675-2490.

Water Mains Being Flushed

AVON - The Avon Water Co. will be flushing water mains in the center of town from April 21 through April 25.

The schedule:

Monday: Avon Park South along the following and connecting streets, Old Farms Road, Route 44 east of 60 West Main Street including all of East Main Street; Waterville Road (Route 10), including Avon Place Apartments, River Mead and Old Avon Village.

The company recommends that customers draw water before 7:30 a.m. and refrain from doing laundry because there may be some discoloration of the water. All customers may experience lower water pressure and pressure surges, periodic loss of water or discolored water in all areas throughout the flushing period.

Queen Portrayed At Library

AVON - Meet Queen Elizabeth I, portrayed by Patricia Carr, at the public library, 281 Country Club Road, to celebrate National Library Week on Saturday at 1 p.m. Entertainment will be anecdotes, amusing tales, and facts from her royal life as her "dressers" assist her with her multiple layers of clothing and jewelry. She will show slides of Elizabethan England, including the homes, gardens and lifestyle habits of the era. For information, call 860-673-9712.

Dinner Served At Firehouse

BANTAM - An all-you-can-eat roast beef country style dinner will be held Saturday at the firehouse, 92 Doyle Road, from 5 to 7 p.m. The cost is $12 and tickets will be sold at the door.

Society Plans Nature Walk

LITCHFIELD - The Litchfield Hills Audubon Society will conduct a nature walk Sunday to celebrate Earth Day. Participants will meet at the Boyd Woods Sanctuary parking lot at 1 p.m. Cookies and punch will be served after the walk. Please bring a blanket or lawn chair. The public is welcome.

Breakfast At Firehouse

NORTHFIELD - The Northfield Volunteer Fire Co., 12 Main St., will host the monthly breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m. The regular menu consists of all the pancakes you can eat, sausage, coffee and juice for $5. French toast, eggs and home fries are also available. A hungryman's special consisting of all of the above is available for $6. Proceeds go toward the new firehouse fund.

Country Western Dance

TORRINGTON - A country western dance will be held Sunday at the Cornucopia Hall, from 2 to 6 p.m. The band is Road Runners, cash bar available. Admission is $11.

Horticulturist Offers Program

TORRINGTON - Horticulturist Gwenythe B. Harvey, manager of The Garden Goddess, LLC will present a program on the flower garden and spring readiness Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at The Coe Memorial Park Community Center. Topics are, division, deadheading, ridding the garden of weeds, pest and disease watch. For more information call 860-489-2274.

'Istanbul' Book Discussion

GRANBY - The public library will discuss "Istanbul," written by Nobel Prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk, Tuesday at 7 p.m. The program leader will be the Rev. Steven Blackburn, library directory and faculty associate at the Hartford Seminary. For more information call 860-844-5275.